~ Jewel Brodie-Reid ~ Certified Life Purpose Coach®

Category Archives: Miscellaneous

A few months ago, I posted a blog titled “When You Can’t See the Palm Trees”. At the time, I was in a space filled with loneliness, doubt and regret. If I’m honest with myself, I was having some real faith issues. I felt disconnected from God, family and friends.

Though I was at a low point in my life, I never lost sight of the purpose that God birthed in me. I was called to motivate and encourage people to live to their greatest potential. I knew that I needed to form purposeful connections in my new location in order to reignite my calling. As a result, I identified key connection areas (see list below) and became intentional about making connections.

Find a Church Home – Being connected with a church body is a critical aspect of growing as a Christian. As a result, my husband and I aggressively visited churches. After several visits, we found a church that we felt compelled to attend. We are now regular attendees.

Join a Life Group – After being former Life Group members, my husband and I recognized the value of being in an intimate Christian community. After making several calls to find a Life Group, we were placed in small group. We have been blessed by the love and support of our leaders and fellow members.

Seek Personal Connections – Nurturing relationships are vitally important for establishing friendships. As I met various women, I looked for beliefs, experiences, and goals upon which to connect. As a result, I see budding friendships forming.

Seek Professional Connections – Professional connections play a critical role in identifying opportunities for professional growth and development. I sought out professional conferences and networking events which exposed me to various learning and career enhancement opportunities.

Identify Volunteer Opportunities – The best way to get yourself out of a pity party is to volunteer with an organization that focuses on meeting the needs of others. I became involved with a great organization called 4 Kids. Their vision is a home for every child.

In my last blog, I shared that God calls us to do things that are inconvenient, uncomfortable and undesirable. These instances often challenge our normal thinking patterns and enable us to see things from a different perspective. Serving as a juror changed my entire viewpoint of the judicial system. I witnessed the personal account of a child’s outcry of molestation and quickly realized the importance, impact and influence that the justice system has on social order.

When the trial ended, I wanted to share my personal experiences that led up to the verdict. However, after careful consideration, I determined that revealing detailed information regarding the trial could cause further hurt to the plaintiff, family members or others involved in the case. I’ll only say that this case ended with a guilty verdict for the defendant and a recommended sentence of 50 plus years. Some would say that a fair and just sentence was rendered. However, after seeing the tears in the defendant’s mother’s eyes, I would say that there’s nothing fair about knowing that your son committed a heinous crime. There’s nothing just about the negative impact that the acts of molestation will have on the child’s future.

When a child makes an outcry of molestation, never discount their statement. You have a personal obligation to report the incident so that the necessary steps can be taken to do what’s in the best interest of the child.

Throughout the course of our lives, we encounter challenges that cause us to question our identity. A verbally and/or physically abusive relationship may have caused you to question your value. A parent’s abandonment may have caused you to question your ability to be loved. Company layoffs may have caused you to question your skills and capabilities. Whatever the challenge, it is often difficult to prevent the hardship from negatively influencing your self-worth.

Resist the urge to allow life hurdles to give you a sense of mistaken identity. View each challenge as an opportunity for self-discovery, growth and development. You were created with a unique set of identifying characteristics and no situation should diminish what God has created.